Personal flotation apparatus

ABSTRACT

A personal flotation apparatus having a main body member, a primary support member, a head support member, and a foot support member, each made of flexible, buoyant, flotation material. The primary support member, head support member, and foot support member are each connected to the main body member, such that they are substantially perpendicular to the main body member and can provide stability, buoyancy and support in various floating and swimming positions. Some embodiments include multiple main body members to increase stability, buoyancy, support and comfort, and allow for heavier users.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/564,499, entitled “PERSONAL FLOTATION APPARATUS” and filed on Nov. 29, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed subject matter relates to personal flotation devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal flotation devices for use in pools, lakes, oceans and other bodies of water have been around for quite some time, and as a result they come in many forms. Naturally, various uses have developed over the years, including safety and rescue uses, physical exercise and training uses, competitive uses and recreational uses.

Personal flotation devices come in a range of sizes and materials as well as different forms. Some are made of a single piece of material, while others involve complicated structures. Many personal flotation devices involve pocket-like structures made of plastic or other material that is then inflated (e.g. inflatable raft).

In response to a desire for a personal flotation device that allows the user to be partially submerged while floating in a seated or lying position, many such devices have been created. Some devices involve a buoyant object or structure on which the user balances. Other devices use a net or other porous material connected to a buoyant object. Still others involve buoyant objects that are attached to the user with straps, belts, ties, snaps, buckles or otherwise.

The approaches descibed in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed subject matter relates to a personal flotation apparatus.

A first aspect of the disclosed subject matter provides a main body member having a head support member connected at the main body member's upper end and a foot support member connected at the main body member's lower end and a primary support member connected somewhere along its length between the other two support members, the primary, head and foot support members and main body member consisting of a flexible, buoyant flotation material, wherein the various members of the personal flotation apparatus can be deformed to allow for different positions and uses.

In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter the support members are connected to the main body member via a friction fit through holes cut into the main body member.

In other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the flotation apparatus comprises multiple main body members.

In yet other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the members of the personal flotation apparatus consist of a closed cell foam material.

In yet other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the members of the personal flotation apparatus consist of elliptic cylinders.

These and other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as additional novel features, will be apparent from the description provided herein. The intent of this summary is not to be a comprehensive description of the subject matter, but rather to provide a short overview of some of the subject matter's functionality. Other systems, methods, features and advantages here provided will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following FIGURES and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages that are included within this description, be within the scope of any claims filed later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in any claims that are filed later. The disclosed subject matter itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C depict a top view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the personal flotation apparatus.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C depict a top view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the personal flotation apparatus in use before being deformed.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C depict a top view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the personal flotation apparatus in use in a partially deformed state for lounging.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C depict a front view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the personal flotation apparatus in use in a substantially deformed state for sitting.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C depict a top view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the personal flotation apparatus in use in a partially deformed state for swimming.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C depict a top view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the personal flotation apparatus having a dual main body member.

FIG. 7A depicts a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7B depicts a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 6A.

In the FIGURES, like elements should be understood to represent like elements, even though reference labels are omitted on some instances of a repeated element, for simplicity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same components. FIGS. 1A-1C depict a top view, a perspective view, and a side view, respectively, of one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. An apparatus 100 generally comprises a main body member 102, a primary support member 104, a head support member 106, and a foot support member 108.

The primary support member 104, the head support member 106 and the foot support member 108, are each generally connected to the main body member 102, such that the support members 104, 106, 108 are substantially perpendicular to the main body member 102. For example, the primary support member 104, the head support member 106, and the foot support member 108 may be connected to the main body member 102 by a friction fit through a primary support hole 110, a head support hole 112, and a foot support hole 114, respectively, cut into the main body member 102. A friction fit, or interference fit, may be achieved by making the dimensions of the holes, 110, 112, 114 the same or smaller than the outer dimensions of the members 104, 106, 108 such that when forced to connect, the friction between them is significant enough to sustain the connection. While a friction fit is depicted in this embodiment to allow for disassembly and reassembly for ease of shipping, display and storage, other embodiments may use other permanent, nonpermanent, and/or adjustable means to connect any of the support members 104, 106, 108 to the main body member 102.

The primary support hole 110 may generally be located anywhere along the length of the main body member 102 to allow for different user heights. The head support hole 112 may generally be located further toward the upper end of the main body member 102 than the primary support hole 110, and the foot support hole 114 may generally be located further toward the lower end of the main body member 102 than the primary support hole 110. For example, in one embodiment the main body member 102 may be approximately 55 inches; measuring from a lower end of the main body member 102, the foot support hole 114 may be centered at approximately 7 inches, the primary support hole 110 may be centered at approximately 41 inches, and the head support hole 112 may be centered at approximately 50 inches, although other distances may be used.

In FIGS. 2A-2C, a user 130 is shown lying flat on the apparatus 100 before it deforms. In some embodiments, when user 130 lies flat on the apparatus 100, the main body member 102 generally resides within the natural indention of the user's 130 spine. The primary support member 104 is generally long enough to help provide buoyancy and stability as well as support for the arms of user 130. For example, the primary support member 104 may be four to five feet long, although different embodiments may use other lengths. Head support member 106 and foot support member 108 are generally long enough to provide buoyancy and stability as well as support for the head and legs of user 130, respectively. For example, the head support member 106 may be one to two feet long, and the foot support member 108 may be two to three feet long, although other lengths may be used in different embodiments. Together the support of primary support member 104, head support member 106 and foot support member 108 allows user 130 to remain stably on top of the apparatus 100, such that if user 130 shifts to one side or the other of main body member 102, the user will not fall off of the apparatus 100 because the buoyancy of the support members 104, 106, 108 will maintain the balance of apparatus 100 and allow user 130 to maintain stably on top.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict the user 130 lounging on apparatus 100 after the main body member 102 has partially deformed due to the body weight and positioning of user 130. The partially deformed state of main body member 102 in combination with the support from primary support member 104, head support member 106 and foot support member 108 allow user 130 to comfortably float in a lounge position while remaining stably situated on the apparatus 100.

FIGS. 4A-4C show the main body member 102 and the primary support member 104 each in a substantially deformed state, allowing the user 130 to float comfortably in a sitting position on the apparatus 100. The primary support member 104 in the substantially deformed position provides stability for remaining on the apparatus 100 as well as support for the arms of user 130.

FIGS. 5A-5C depict user 130 using the apparatus 100 in a partially deformed state for swimming. Due to the the weight and positioning of user 130, the main body member 102 is partially deformed. The partially deformed main body member 102, the primary support member 104 and the foot support member 108 in this position provide stability for remaining comfortably on the apparatus 100 while the user 130 is swimming.

Another embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is depicted in FIGS. 6A-6C. An apparatus 200 generally comprises a first main body member 202A, a second main body member 202B, a primary support member 104, a head support member 106, and a foot support member 108. The use of two main body members 202A, 202B in this embodiment is to increase buoyancy, support and comfort, and among other advantages, may allow for heavier users. While this embodiment depicts two main body members 202A, 202B, other embodiments may include additional main body members. Still other embodiments may include more than one primary support member 104, head support member 106, and/or foot support member 108.

The primary support member 104, the head support member 106 and the foot support member 108, are each generally connected to the main body members 202A, 202B, such that the support members 104, 106, 108 are substantially perpendicular to the main body members 202A, 202B. For example, the primary support member 104, the head support member 106, and the foot support member 108 may be connected to the main body members 202A, 202B by a friction fit through a primary support hole 110, a head support hole 112, and a foot support hole 114, respectively, cut through each of the main body members 202A, 202B. While a friction fit is depicted in this embodiment to allow for disassembly and reassembly for ease of shipping, display and storage, other embodiments may use other permanent, nonpermanent, and/or adjustable means to connect the support members 104, 106, 108 to the main body members 202A, 202B.

The apparatus 100, 200 may be made of a flexible, buoyant flotation material, for example a closed cell foam material, or any other suitable material. The depicted embodiments show the members of the apparatus 100, 200 as elliptic cylinders due to the fact that the holes 110, 112, 114 can be cut on the major axis side of the ellipse of the main body members 102, 202A, 202B, with the minor axis of the ellipse of holes 110, 112, 114 parallel to the major axis of the main body members 102, 202A, 202B. The major axis of the ellipse of the main body members 102, 202A, 202B need only be slightly greater than the smallest diameter of the support members 104, 106, 108, which is cost-effective for manufacturing because it allows for reasonably-sized members using minimal material. Additionally, using eliptical cylinders in such a manner allows for more material to remain between the outer surface edge of the main body member 102 and the inner surface of the holes 110, 112, 114, making tears through the main body member 102 less likely. For example, the support members 104, 106, 108 may have an elliptic major axis of approximately 3.5 inches and elliptic minor axis of approximately 2.2 inches, and the main body member 102 may have an elliptic major axis of approximately 4.5 inches and an elliptic minor axis of approximately 3.3 inches, however other dimensions may be used. To achieve a friction fit using the same example dimensions for support members 104, 106, 108, example dimensions for holes 110, 112, 114 may include an elliptic major axis of approximately 3.3 inches and an elliptic minor axis of approximately 2.1 inches, however other dimensions may be used. Different embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may use shapes other than elliptic cylinders for any and all of the members of apparatus 100, 200, such as circular cylinders or rectangular prisms, for example. Similarly, while the holes 110, 112, 114 are shown as ellipses for the above stated reason, other embodiments may use different shapes for the holes 110, 112, 114.

FIG. 7A depicts a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 7B depicts a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 6A. While these embodiments show the members of the apparatus 100, 200 having a hollowed center 116 for purposes of decreasing required material without affecting buoyancy, in some embodiments one or more of the members of apparatus 100, 200, may not include the hollowed center 116, and in other embodiments the hollowed center 116 of one or more of the members of apparatus 100, 200 may be smaller, bigger, or in a different shape.

In some embodiments, multiple members are combined to build larger flotation devices.

While the disclosed subject matter has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, the specific features of one embodiment should not be attributed to other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. No single embodiment is representative of all aspects of the disclosed subject matter. Moreover, variations and modifications therefrom exist. For example, the disclosed subject matter described herein may comprise other components. Various additives may also be used to further enhance one or more properties. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter is substantially free of any additive not specifically enumerated herein. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter described herein consist of or consist essentially of the enumerated components. In addition, some embodiments of the methods described herein consist of or consist essentially of the enumerated steps. The claims to be appended later intend to cover all such variations and modifications as falling within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a main body member; a head support member connected substantially perpendicular to said main body member at an upper end of said main body member; a foot support member connected substantially perpendicular to said main body member at a lower end of said main body member and substantially parallel to said head support member; a primary support member connected substantially perpendicular to said main body member somewhere along the length of said main body member between said head support member and said foot support member and substantially parallel to said head support member; and wherein said apparatus is a personal flotation device. 